# Unable to renew Basic license for Elasticsearch 7.17.18 — need updated license URL

**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-renew-basic-license-for-elasticsearch-7-17-18-need-updated-license-url/380907
**Category:** Kibana
**Tags:** docker
**Created:** [August 8, 2025, 2:35pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-renew-basic-license-for-elasticsearch-7-17-18-need-updated-license-url/380907 "2025-08-08T14:35:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![dawsonweb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@dawsonweb](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dawsonweb)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2025, 2:35pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-renew-basic-license-for-elasticsearch-7-17-18-need-updated-license-url/380907/1 "2025-08-08T14:35:58Z")

</div>

Hi all,

I’m running **Elasticsearch 7.17.18** in a Docker container on **[your OS here, e.g., Ubuntu 20.04 LTS]**.  
Kibana version: **7.17.18**.

This cluster was originally deployed with the default 30-day trial license, but it expired in April 2024.

**What I’ve done so far:**

1. Checked my license status:

2. Confirmed that security is currently blocking some API calls with:

3. Temporarily disabled `xpack.security.enabled` to clear disk space and perform maintenance. I then restarted Elasticsearch with security re-enabled.

4. Attempted to follow the documented renewal process for a free Basic license from:  
[https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/7.17/basic-license.html](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/7.17/basic-license.html)  
— but this link no longer resolves and the referenced process appears unavailable.

**Current issue:**

When users navigate to my Kibana viewer page the following error is now displayed:  
`{"statusCode":503,"error":"Service Unavailable","message":"License is not available."}`  
I need to convert from the expired trial license to the free Basic license to restore normal cluster functionality, but I cannot find the working URL or current method to request/download a Basic license for Elasticsearch 7.17.18.

**Request for help:**

- What is the current supported method or API call to activate a Basic license on Elasticsearch 7.17.18?

- If there is still a web form or account-based download for the license file, what is the updated link?

Any guidance would be appreciated — happy to provide any further output or config details if needed.

**Environment:**

- Elasticsearch: 7.17.18

- Kibana: 7.17.18

- Running in Docker (single-node)

- Mounted data path: `/data/es-data` → `/usr/share/elasticsearch/data`

- Host OS: Ubuntu 22.04.2 LTS

Thanks in advance!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![stephenb](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/stephenb/32/40856_2.png) [@stephenb](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/stephenb)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-renew-basic-license-for-elasticsearch-7-17-18-need-updated-license-url/380907/2 "2025-08-08T14:37:49Z")

</div>

Hi @dawsonweb Welcome to the community.

Yes this should be easier to find

To set back to basic license

`POST /_license/start_basic?acknowledge=true`

> **[Start a basic license | Elasticsearch API documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-license-post-start-basic)**
>
> Start an indefinite basic license, which gives access to all the basic features.
> NOTE: In order to start a basic license, you must not currently have a basic license.
> If the bas...